Smith back at 160

Let's have it right. Degale fought a fantastic fight and is a top quality fighter. But fighting out of your natural weight class can diminish anyone on any number of ways. Speed, foot movement, power, overall fitness etc.
A smith at mw is stronger and more competitive.
Btw, the bendall loss was HEAVILY disputed.

 

It's the old argument that if someone can beat someone else, and then another guy can't beat them as convincingly it automatically means they're a class below. In most cases it doesn't stack up really.
In terms of confidence, who knows?? I think the way most fighters look at it is how could they have done things better as opposed to what the other guy did

 

It's the right move

 

I'd rather follow him than read the **** people like rio Ferdinand put on it.
Smith is one amongst many others!

 

This attitude that a boxer is nothing special because they may fall short at world level is ridiculous. There have been many excellent fighters who have won British titles but not made it at world.
Boxing is all about levels no doubt, I mean does anyone really think macintosh will do any further than the euro belt he won? I don't, but it doesn't make me think he is a shocking boxer with no ability.
The whole point of me making this thread was to tell people what smith is doing. Regardless of where this next move takes him, I admire the determination to move forward career wise, and I think he did a tough thing in admitting he cannot make the leap at smw. No whether being at smw was laziness or not I don't know. But it became evident it wasn't his natural weight class.
Many boxers go through this correct weight class thing. Look at Kevin Mitchell. He could do with a move back to super feather, as there is something about him at lw that makes him look slightly diminshed. But it's about trial and error and doing what feels right for you at that time, and I don't think you can knock anyone for that